Phoenix arm begins deployment
Posted: Thu, May 29, 2008, 5:47 AM ET (0947 GMT)
The robotic arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander began its deployment on Wednesday after project engineers worked around a communications glitch that temporarily slowed the checkout of the lander. Engineers issued commands on Wednesday to begin the deployment of the arm, a two-day process, and expected to receive images on Thursday confirming the arm had started to move from its stowed position on the lander's deck. The arm will eventually be used to dig into the soil around the landing site, scooping up material to be analyzed by instruments on the lander. The mission is using the UHF link on the Mars Odyssey spacecraft as its primary relay for communicating with the lander after a similar radio on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter malfunctioned earlier in the week.
The robotic arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander began its deployment on Wednesday after project engineers worked around a communications glitch that temporarily slowed the checkout of the lander. Engineers issued commands on Wednesday to begin the deployment of the arm, a two-day process, and expected to receive images on Thursday confirming the arm had started to move from its stowed position on the lander's deck. The arm will eventually be used to dig into the soil around the landing site, scooping up material to be analyzed by instruments on the lander. The mission is using the UHF link on the Mars Odyssey spacecraft as its primary relay for communicating with the lander after a similar radio on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter malfunctioned earlier in the week.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, January 26
Rheinmetall and OHB in talks over Starlink-style service for German army
Financial Times — 5:19 am ET (1019 GMT) Colorado Springs must reject political games over Space Command
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:19 am ET (1019 GMT) Blue Origin wastewater permit public meeting coming up Friday at UF/IFAS building
Florida Today — 5:16 am ET (1016 GMT) Central Coast Residents Greeted with Aggressive Boom from SpaceX Launch Sunday Morning
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 5:12 am ET (1012 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Carries Starlink Satellites Into Orbit from Vandenberg
Noozhawk — 5:11 am ET (1011 GMT) |
